Thursday, October 10, 2013

The Milwaukee Admirals are ready to kick-off their 35th
season in the American Hockey League on Friday, October 11. Following a loss in
their final preseason match against the Iowa Wild last week, the Admirals open
the 2013 season in Canada at the Abbotsford Heat. Earlier this week, the staff
at the BMO Harris Bradley Center were prepping the ice for the team's
home-opener on coming up against Chicago. The frozen rink will be the only
permanent structure at the downtown venue for the seven-month season, as other
surfaces set for basketball and music performances will be laid right on top.

The Admirals preseason finale in Iowa looked like it would
end on a high note until the Wild's Taylor Matson scored an equalizing goal
with just four minutes remaining in the third period. Milwaukee defenseman
Scott Ford put a puck past goalie Darcy Kuemper early in the first to manage
the Admirals sole score of the night, failing to capitalize on their only
powerplay of the game later in the period.

Iowa came away empty from four of their own power plays
during regulation, though a penalty in overtime to the Admirals Miikka Salomaki
was the catalyst for a game-ending goal by forward Zack Phillips. The night's
slow play was highlighted by a stellar performance from Admirals reserve
goalkeeper Marek Mazanec. Taking the place of starter Magnus Hellberg
30-minutes into play, Mazanec stopped 20 of the 22 shots he faced, including
seven in overtime.

The Netminder corps of the Admirals 2013 roster is one of
their strongest in years. A strong backup in Mazanec, the team holds a 2012
top-five performer in the Swede Hellberg. Drafted by NHL affiliate Nashville in
2011, Hellberg has stopped 916 of nearly 1000 shots against him since then, and
is expected get the call to play behind the Predators Pekka Rinne soon.

Returning Admirals Lead The Charge

Others returning from last season's playoff team include top
scorer Austin Watson, who managed an Admirals-best 20 goals in his rookie year
in 2012. Also a familiar face, the team's leading assist-man forward Taylor Beck
will be back in 2013. Beck is part of a trio of Admirals to have gotten
late-season promotions to Nashville last year who will be back in the AHL in
2013; the other two are Joonas Rask and Kevin Henderson.

The coveted Calder Cup is the priority for the end of the
2013 season, a feat the team fell short of last year with four losses in the
first round of the postseason. Though, maintaining the Admirals diligent
fan-base is an equally as important goal say officials at the organization. One
of the most attended farm-teams in the league, the Admirals have again
partnered with a number of sponsors to host five fan-promotions this season.